268 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



many as seven. On 30th June, 1865, an owl was observed flying 

 about a particular spot in the barren grounds, and we concluded 

 that its mate was not far off, a suspicion confirmed by its uneasy 

 excitement as soon as a search was instituted. Myself and four 

 of our party were thus fully engaged over an hour ere success 

 rewarded our efforts by the female getting off her nest in the 

 centre of a small clump of dwarf willows, one foot in height, just 

 as she was almost trodden upon. It was composed of withered 

 grasses and feathers, and contained five eggs. We must have 

 frequently approached her in the course of our protracted search. 

 {Macfarlane) 



I have found this species nesting in Manitoba and Assiniboia, 

 making its nest on the ground ; it lays from five to seven eggs. 

 I have three sets that were .taken at Shoalwater Bay and Mac- 

 kenzie Bay, Arctic America. One set of five eggs was taken 

 June 6th, 1898, another set of four, June 4th, 1890, and another 

 set of five, June 7th, 1898, so that the first week in June appears 

 to be the time this bird has fresh eggs in the Arctic regions. The 

 Eskimo's name for this bird is Nipaiclooktik. {W. Raine.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Six ; one.purchased with the Holman collection in 1885 ; one 

 procured at Aylmer, Que., in 1886 ; one in Russell Co., Ont., in 

 September, 1890 ; three others were taken at Indian Head, Assa., 

 Edmonton, Alta., and Victoria, B.C., by W. Spreadborough. 



One set of five eggs taken at Moose Jaw, Assa., May 28th, 

 1894, by Mr. W. Raine. Nest on ground. A hollow lined with 

 grass and weeds, built on a rising ground overlooking the slough. 



CXXXIII. SYRNIUM Savigny. 1809. 



*368 Barred Owl. 



Sy'rnium nebulosum (Forst.) Boie. 1828. 

 Apparently a summer resident but not common in Newfound- 

 land. {Reeks.) A common resident in Nova Scotia both winter 

 and summer. {Downs. Gilpin.) An abundant resident in New 

 Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) A permanent resident at Scotch 

 Lake, York Co., N.B. ; tolerably common. {W. H. Moore.) Taken 

 at Beauport; a resident in Quebec. {Vionne.) A permanent resi- 

 dent at Montreal, but not common. I shot a female and male 

 speeimeps October 25th, 1.889, and February 8th, 1890, on the spur 

 of Mount Royal. {Wintle.) A moderately common resident in 



